- This is about a region in Morocco: RIF is also an acronym/initialism.
The Rif (Arif in Berber, er-Rif الريف in Arabic) is a mainly mountainous region of north Morocco, from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Cape Tres Forcas (Ras Tleta Madari) and Melilla in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Ouargha in the south. Rif might have its origin in Arif an Berber word or from Arabic language meaning countryside.
The people of the Rif are Berbers (Amazigh people) of north Morocco who call themselves Imazighen.
Major Rif cities include Al Hoceima and Nador,Tangirs, Tetouan and Taza, while Melilla, though in Spanish hands, is geographically a part of it. Chefchaouen is worth visiting, but Ketama (also known as Issaguen) is known as the center of the hashish trade and is likely not an ideal destination.
History
In the Middle Ages, it was the home of the Kingdom of Nekor. In the twentieth century, under the leadership of Abd el-Krim el-Khattabi, a Moroccan national hero, it declared independence as the Republic of the Rif and withstood a Spanish invasion for several years.
Neighboring groups include Ghomara on the east, Senhaja on the southeast, and Aith Iznacen on the southwest, in addition to Algeria to the east. The principal spoken language of the region is Tarifit.
Tribes
Traditionally, the principal Rif tribes of the region are:
- Aith Ouriaghel near Ajdir, around Oued Ghis (Abd el-Krim's tribe)
- Gzennaya, near the source of Oued Bayu, east of the Metalsa
- Galiya, in the region of Melilla
- Mazuza
- Aith Shisher
- Aith Sidel
- Aith Bu Ifrur
- Aith Buyafar
- Kebdana, along the coast next to Oued Moulouya near the Algerian border
- Aith Said, west of Oued Kert
- Oulad Stut, an originally Arab tribe, south of the Kebdana
- Aith Bu Yahi, along Oued Moulouya south of the Oulad Stut
- Metalsa, east of the Aith Bu Yahi
- Aith Ulishk, southwest of Temsaman
- Tafersit, southwest of Temsaman
- Aith Tuzin, south of Temsaman
- Temsaman, around the town of that name, west of Al Hoceima
- Aith Amart, south of Aith Ouriaghel
- Targuist, southeast of Aith Ouriaghel
- Bokoya, between Ajdir and Bades
- Aith Itteft, east of Bades
- Aith Bu Frah, east of Aith Itteft
- Mestassa, east of Aith Bu Frah
- Mtiwa, between Mestassa and Oued Ouringa
Environment
The Rif mountains are home to the honeybee Apis mellifera major.
See also
External links
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rif under GFDL
